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Hello all,
I'm just wondering, do you guys notice or know of any real difference b/t the unlocked/non-carrier firmware that's out there and the carrier-specific firmware from T-Mobile for the M8? Is one considered better than the other?
Please share your thoughts with us!
Thank You,
RockStar2005
RockStar2005 said:
Hello all,
I'm just wondering, do you guys notice or know of any real difference b/t the unlocked/non-carrier firmware that's out there and the carrier-specific firmware from T-Mobile for the M8? Is one considered better than the other?
Please share your thoughts with us!
Thank You,
RockStar2005
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know my experience with the M7 (yes i know its an M8 forum but still somewhat relevant) is Yes, the carrier firmware was better.
I had a Stock TMO branded M7. I did the full conversion to make it a GPe unit. It was nice but i had some signal issues. It was better with the TMO radios but ultimately i put it back to stock TMO and for me i got the best results like that.
IAmSixNine said:
I know my experience with the M7 (yes i know its an M8 forum but still somewhat relevant) is Yes, the carrier firmware was better.
I had a Stock TMO branded M7. I did the full conversion to make it a GPe unit. It was nice but i had some signal issues. It was better with the TMO radios but ultimately i put it back to stock TMO and for me i got the best results like that.
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Click to collapse
No I think the M7 experience is definitely still relevant!
Ok, you're the first one so far here to say that. So the radios change based on the firmware? Why is that? I mean, why would the radios be affected by the firmware? Seems to me it'd be better to leave the radios alone and let them remain how they came.
My previous OTA was from T-Mobile, but in order to get updated ViperOne M8, I had to get the firmware for 2.22 and T-Mo wasn't deploying it. They apparently just approved it on the 18th, but as u prob read above, I'm not even sure if they've deployed it, and what it contains. I seem to have as much signal quality as before. I just wish they'd have VoLTE deployed for the M8s. That would be great.
RockStar2005
I have been with T-Mobile less then 2 years. Prior to that i was with sprint over 10 years. I got most of my "radio" experience flashing different radios for the Samsung GS2.
That device was super finikey when it came to radios. I also found at the time that 3 different network vendors set up most of the CDMA network in the USA for Sprint. So for me having a specific radio work well meant that same one might not work so well up north. Samsung was also known to not have very good hardware / antennas (when i say radios i am referring to the firmware for the specific device.) So while my devices hardware stayed the same Samsung was making software tweaks during each revision of software.
But to keep it simple, Yes, different versions of radios can work differently in each device. Thats even with stock radios. Then if you add stuff like a GPe radio to a stock unit, or what i had with my M7 using a GPe ROM with a TMO radio. It always pains me to see people who post about using carrier A phone unlocked with carrier B network. Those people will never get the most out of their hardware network wise because carrier B has worked with the manufacturer to make sure their device is created to be specific to their network. Sure an unlocked will work but not at 100% efficiency. It could be a hardware limitation, could be some software that is baked into the ROM to make it work better, or even as simple as TMO baking in WiFi calling with their network.
I mean look what happened to the Note 3 for TMO. Originally it shipped with LTE not even enabled. The hardware was there then BAM, with an OTA LTE was enabled. Flash forward to the last few months, 2 separate updates for VoLTE. Those are radios updates that are specific to the hardware in the Note 3.
Hopefully someone else can chime in as well. Id hate to think im the only one.
Six,
No you explained that rather well! My cousin has the Note 3 so I know what u said about the last part (on VoLTE) is def true. I wish HTC would hurry the F up and give us M8 ppl VoLTE. Would be nice. And make it available everywhere, not just major cities (it's avail in Chicago, but I live 25-30 min away).
I have a buddy who works for U.S. Cellular corporate, and he said the same thing. Unlocked phones, esp ones sold by one carrier but used on another's network, don't work AS well as when the phone is made for your carrier's network. International phones at least I believe work fine if released OFFICIALLY in the U.S. (i.e., Sony's Xperia Z2, which is ONLY avail that way in the U.S.), because they've been tested on ALL carrier networks/bands, but that's diff than using say a Sprint phone on T-Mobile's network, I believe. (Or using a phone that wasn't approved for all the major U.S. carriers.)
So far you're the only who seems pro-carrier firmware/OTAs, but that's ok. That's why I started this thread, so I can get all sides of the story. But if you read the previous posts, the other posters make a compelling argument that's pro-noncarrier. It sounds like in my situation I'm fine, b/c I'm pretty sure the int't M8 was tested on T-Mo's bands already. The firmware would just go along with that same data, so I don't think I'm having any loss of quality. Now if I carrier-unlocked my phone and tried it on Sprint or Verizon, or even AT&T......... then I would expect a loss of quality at some level.
Thanks,
RockStar2005
Agreed. I see merits in both custom roms, stock roms, GPe Roms and Cyanogen.
Back in the GS2 days i was a big fan of using some of those custom ROMS guys would cook up. It fixed a lot of issues with Android.
But for ME, since 4.2.2 and up, i have been happy with stock ROMs.
In fact i almost always ran custom roms on my older devices and only recently started to leave them stock.
The last thing was when TMO gave me 3 GB free tethering, that was the last thing i might have rooted for.
My note 3 is stock, my M8 is still stock. and my back up M7 is stock (after putting GPe on it for a few weeks and testing stuff out).
I for one use my M8 as my daily phone and my Note 3 as my back up / game device.
For example, today at lunch i had local news streaming on my M8 while my Note 3 was tethered to my M8. On my Note 3 i was playing a few games while i waited for my food then answered a few emails and chatted with a friend on Hangouts.
With TMOs recent 4.4.3 update my M8 seems to run better then before and i feel im getting better battery life out of it.
Cant wait for my Note 3 to get 4.4.3 or 4.4.4. Also really looking forward to Android L on both of the units.
The way i look at it is what are YOUR pros and cons. LOL.
IAmSixNine said:
Agreed. I see merits in both custom roms, stock roms, GPe Roms and Cyanogen.
Back in the GS2 days i was a big fan of using some of those custom ROMS guys would cook up. It fixed a lot of issues with Android.
But for ME, since 4.2.2 and up, i have been happy with stock ROMs.
In fact i almost always ran custom roms on my older devices and only recently started to leave them stock.
The last thing was when TMO gave me 3 GB free tethering, that was the last thing i might have rooted for.
My note 3 is stock, my M8 is still stock. and my back up M7 is stock (after putting GPe on it for a few weeks and testing stuff out).
I for one use my M8 as my daily phone and my Note 3 as my back up / game device.
For example, today at lunch i had local news streaming on my M8 while my Note 3 was tethered to my M8. On my Note 3 i was playing a few games while i waited for my food then answered a few emails and chatted with a friend on Hangouts.
With TMOs recent 4.4.3 update my M8 seems to run better then before and i feel im getting better battery life out of it.
Cant wait for my Note 3 to get 4.4.3 or 4.4.4. Also really looking forward to Android L on both of the units.
The way i look at it is what are YOUR pros and cons. LOL.
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Click to collapse
My "pros and cons" list involves having all pros and NO cons! lol
I think I'll prob just wait for the T-Mo OTAs from now on, but then again, b/c I have ViperOne, I won't know when they get deployed unless I constantly revert back to stock. Ughh! I guess so far I haven't really noticed a difference in signal and call quality since installing a non-carrier firmware, though it's only been like not even 2 weeks yet since I did it.
That's cool though that you're so happy with it. Perhaps your posts are an indication that T-Mobile has gotten better with their overall quality, and so that's something to look forward to for when I do go back to stock (whenever that is lol).
Thank You,
RockStar2005
Most people make a big deal about carrier OTAs. So you really dont need to revert back to check for them. As long as your active on the boards you will know when a device gets an OTA.
I failed to mention that part of why im happy with stock is because devices are now getting to the point where they are so fast that having bloat ware on them doesnt noticeably slow down the devices like they used to. At least i dont notice it. Pluse with 4.2.2 they allow you to "disable" most apps you dont want to use. So thats another plus.
Back in the day i used to root and do the custom ROM for extra battery life, or tethering, or to make the device snappier.
I honestly would have thought that someone else might have chimed in by now and added their 2 cents.
IAmSixNine said:
Most people make a big deal about carrier OTAs. So you really dont need to revert back to check for them. As long as your active on the boards you will know when a device gets an OTA.
I failed to mention that part of why im happy with stock is because devices are now getting to the point where they are so fast that having bloat ware on them doesnt noticeably slow down the devices like they used to. At least i dont notice it. Pluse with 4.2.2 they allow you to "disable" most apps you dont want to use. So thats another plus.
Back in the day i used to root and do the custom ROM for extra battery life, or tethering, or to make the device snappier.
I honestly would have thought that someone else might have chimed in by now and added their 2 cents.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Six,
Yeah, that's true. Or I can check on T-Mobile's update site, though there may still be some delay b/c of how they deploy OTAs: http://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-10366
I've noticed that too, and before I got ViperOne and also Titanium Backup, I was disabling several apps too. Though I prefer to just uninstall them.
RockStar2005
Six,
I talked to one of the ppl at Team Venom, and he said he has T-Mobile and recommends just taking T-Mobile's firmware updates for better cell reception. I'll do that from now on. But for now, if anyone is interested, I have here a link to the latest radio image file for the M8 (as of 8/27). Just download and "install flash" in TWRP.
And if you're rooted and want to get rid of the "red splash" screen during boot-up, try flashing the attached mod! :victory:
http://www.mediafire.com/download/beucjivbc4i9y3u/RadioUpdate_2.22.531.5_1.19.213311491.03G.zip
Thank You,
RockStar2005
So... My question now.. I'm one of those buy vzw m8 take over to T-Mobile. I'm running viper 2.3. It runs great. But vzw never updated to newest firmware.so my question I guess is... Can I flash a T-Mobile radio or firmware to my vzw phone? I kinda know the answer, but I'd rather ask. So if I can.. that'll be great!
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
I know on the M7 that would brick the unit.
The CDMA and GSM units had different hardware and flashing any GSM ROM into a CDMA unit bricked them.
I want to say the same holds for the M8.
Can someone else confirm that for me?
IAmSixNine said:
I know on the M7 that would brick the unit.
The CDMA and GSM units had different hardware and flashing any GSM ROM into a CDMA unit bricked them.
I want to say the same holds for the M8.
Can someone else confirm that for me?
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Click to collapse
Yeah thanks I kinda figured that, but you know it never hurts to ask, especially if it has the potential to maybe work out.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:20 AM ----------
Then maybe would it be better for me when Verizon gets the ota for 4.4.3.... I should implement that, and then.... Redo my rom?
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
With the release of the M9, I've been considering trying to find a good condition used M8 for cheap(ish).
I'm no stranger to unlocking and modding a phone, but I'm having a hard time getting a handle on WiFi calling on this one. It seems like it kind of works on some mods but requires certain radio versions be flashed, and a lot of situations are solved by giving up and flashing a T-mo stock OS. Then there's the inclusion of WFC into Android as a stock feature at some unknown point in the future, maybe 4.1 but only on the Nexus 6 at first..?
So for those of you who actually already own the phones and have been playing around with them for awhile now, do you think it's even worth getting an unlocked/non-Tmo M8 if I need to have WiFi calling? Or is it better to just get a T-mo M8 to start with and deal with de-bloating it? And how bad do you think the bloat is in the first place?
Brew78 said:
With the release of the M9, I've been considering trying to find a good condition used M8 for cheap(ish).
I'm no stranger to unlocking and modding a phone, but I'm having a hard time getting a handle on WiFi calling on this one. It seems like it kind of works on some mods but requires certain radio versions be flashed, and a lot of situations are solved by giving up and flashing a T-mo stock OS. Then there's the inclusion of WFC into Android as a stock feature at some unknown point in the future, maybe 4.1 but only on the Nexus 6 at first..?
So for those of you who actually already own the phones and have been playing around with them for awhile now, do you think it's even worth getting an unlocked/non-Tmo M8 if I need to have WiFi calling? Or is it better to just get a T-mo M8 to start with and deal with de-bloating it? And how bad do you think the bloat is in the first place?
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Click to collapse
For t-mobile wifi calling I believe you need to have the phone setup as a t-mobile phone. So if the phone is a non-t-mobile phone, you need to run a t-mobile ROM, which might include flash different firmware and setting other items. From what I know, the ROMS that have the t-mobile wifi calling in them used the t-mobile ROM as a based (but I could be wrong), and those that do not typically are other GSM based ROMS.
Remember that depending on your plan, you could just use google voice over 3g/4g or wifi also.
Kind of figured it was something like that, thanks. In the end, I actually wound up with a Moto X since they had that package deal with the headphones last week and I was in the market for a new set anyway. Guess I gotta do without Wi-Fi calling for now.
This user was able to get it to work, so you might try flashing this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/tmobile-htc-one-m8/general/t-mobile-wifi-calling-t3058708
Hello!
I am currently on Pure Nexus with Project Fi working very well, but I wanted to know if there were any other custom ROMs for the N5X that fully support Project Fi. If anyone uses or knows of any other ROMs that work well with Fi please share them along with your experiences with it. I will be compiling a list of the known ROMs that people have confirmed to be fully working with Fi - hopefully it will be a good resource for any Fi users that would like to try a new ROM out!
Confirmed ROMs that completely work with Project Fi:
- [ROM][5X][6.0.1]★ Pure Nexus ★ Layers | Fi | WiFi Calling ★[07/23/16]
- [ROM] Dirty Unicorns 6.0.1 {Bullhead} (07/08/16)
I too am interested in compiling a list of ROMs that fully support Project Fi. I can vouch for Dirty Unicorns, as I've been running this ROM for some time now. Project Fi works flawlessly with DU. The same could not be said for some other ROMs that I've tried in the passed. Specifically when dealing with the DMservice FC'ing errors and what not. Extremely annoying. If you'd like to start compiling a list in the OP when people confirm which ROMs work with Fi, I think this could be a great resource for new members and vets alike. Especially as Project Fi gains traction in the community.
Alcolawl said:
I too am interested in compiling a list of ROMs that fully support Project Fi. I can vouch for Dirty Unicorns, as I've been running this ROM for some time now. Project Fi works flawlessly with DU. The same could not be said for some other ROMs that I've tried in the passed. Specifically when dealing with the DMservice FC'ing errors and what not. Extremely annoying. If you'd like to start compiling a list in the OP when people confirm which ROMs work with Fi, I think this could be a great resource for new members and vets alike. Especially as Project Fi gains traction in the community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great idea! Project Fi was a big incentive in me buying a Nexus device - I am pretty sure that there are a decent amount of people who use Fi and like trying out custom ROMs. I'll definitely give DU a try, but I have been using PN for a couple of months and so far I have never got the DMservice FC errors you mentioned, the dev must have fixed it, I only used the stock ROM for like 1 day before switching over, so I can't compare, but it seems to be working great, always have a strong signal with LTE!
User.random() said:
Great idea! Project Fi was a big incentive in me buying a Nexus device - I am pretty sure that there are a decent amount of people who use Fi and like trying out custom ROMs. I'll definitely give DU a try, but I have been using PN for a couple of months and so far I have never got the DMservice FC errors you mentioned, the dev must have fixed it, I only used the stock ROM for like 1 day before switching over, so I can't compare, but it seems to be working great, always have a strong signal with LTE!
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Click to collapse
I've heard great things about PN, but it can never hurt to try other ROMs, that's what this device is all about: Crack Flashing lol.
I'm really enjoying Project Fi myself, especially coming from Sprint, it's a night and day difference in my area. The WiFi calling and texting is awesome. I highly recommend you download FiSwitch if you haven't already. If you encounter dead spots or places where the phone struggles to find server on a certain carrier, you can explicitly command the phone to switch to another carrier (T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular).
Alcolawl said:
I've heard great things about PN, but it can never hurt to try other ROMs, that's what this device is all about: Crack Flashing lol.
I'm really enjoying Project Fi myself, especially coming from Sprint, it's a night and day difference in my area. The WiFi calling and texting is awesome. I highly recommend you download FiSwitch if you haven't already. If you encounter dead spots or places where the phone struggles to find server on a certain carrier, you can explicitly command the phone to switch to another carrier (T-Mobile, Sprint, US Cellular).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha yeah, I've run of stuff to mess with in PN, so hopefully DU will give me more features to try out. And yes, the WiFi calling is awesome, I was on T-Mobile with my old phone and they had WiFi calling, but no ROM supported it, so I never got to actually use it! I have bought FiSwitch, but I mostly got it to see if it was actually switching networks. But in the dead spots you mentioned shouldn't the phone automatically switch over to another carrier, why would you have to force it to switch?
User.random() said:
But in the dead spots you mentioned shouldn't the phone automatically switch over to another carrier, why would you have to force it to switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I have found, specifically while travelling or commuting, is that the phone will switch to a different carrier after having no service for a certain amount of time, but then the phone will be extremely reluctant to switch back to another carrier regardless of how weak the signal is or if there's a better one available. An example would be that I have excellent T-Mobile service in most parts of my area, but while commuting to work there are one or two dead zones large enough to prompt the phone to switch to Sprint. Sprint has 3G in these dead zones but in most other parts of my area, their service is abysmal. Even when leaving these dead zones and entering areas where T-Mobile has strong LTE coverage, the phone will stay on Sprint, even when Sprint will sometimes have 1x or no service at all. So, I use FiSwitch to remedy this issue. This only seems to happen in my area, which is a bit mountainous. I work in the city, however, so the phone behaves normally otherwise.
While Lineage O.S. seems to do most things as it should, there also seem to be some things that, for lack of a better way to put it, just don't seem to work. This could result from defective hardware, defective software, or defective user issues. This is intended to be a place to post inquiries about stuff that doesn't seem to work properly. If it is defective hardware, well, there's probably not much we can do for you here. Defective software? Perhaps the Lineage OS team or your app developer might see something here to put onto the to-do list. Defective user? A friendly: "Cool. Someone told me how to fix it without telling me I was a complete doofus" can go a long way to improve one's day, at least in my humble opinion.
Video in Stock Messages app doesn't work properly
On d2vzw (Verizon Galaxy S3) running OctOS 7.1.1 (LOS 14.1)
Pictures work fine, but when I try to record a video mms it freezes the camera, and when I receive a video mms from someone all I can play is the audio part. Pictures work fine; just the video has issues.
Would love to hear if others experience this as well or if I'm on the Crazy Train... :silly:
Device info ?
It seems likely that a lot of issues are going to be device specific, so it would be useful to include info such as what device you have and, if you aren't using the current LOS build, which one you are using. For instance, I've not had that particular problem on my LOS device(s), but one of my not yet changed devices did with the factory build (go figure). OEM supplied a new messaging app and the problem went away.
nezlek said:
. Defective software? Perhaps the Lineage OS team or your app developer might see something here to put onto the to-do list. .
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Click to collapse
I think this is to optimistic. Have you seen how restrictive devs are with bug reports? Maybe it's faster to start building LOS yourself.
kurtn said:
I think this is to optimistic. Have you seen how restrictive devs are with bug reports? Maybe it's faster to start building LOS yourself.
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Click to collapse
I do have to agree with you, but one can always hope. And if folks never make problems known at all, we can't expect others to be clairvoyant. :angel:
I also don't necessarily disagree with the restrictions. It is tough enough to expect people to work for you basically for free, let alone with absolutely no structure imposed on how to define their tasks.
Unfortunately, some issues just don't fall conveniently into the structure for bug reporting. I've been trying to observe ANY pattern to my LG tablet with 14.1 randomly dropping Wi-Fi connectivity despite every settings change one could make. It is an annoyance rather than a deal breaker since it only seems to drop the connection when idle (at least so far). There is also an annoying little glitch about randomly forgetting the wallpaper I've selected, but if those are the things I have to put up with to have something better than an unsupported 3-year old Kit Kat build on the device, I am willing to do so and hopefully one of these days those two little problems will get fixed. If someone who reads this says: "oh yeah, I had that problem, too, you just have to ....." all the better. If it takes coding skills, hopefully one of these days I will get there.
So, my lease is up on my S9 and I would like to give it to my GF.
I use SPRINT, she uses AT&T.
I would like to know what it takes to get the phone working with AT&T.
Sprint says they can unlock the phone for me. What I need help with is the steps to take from there. I've been researching for days and I keep finding posts saying that this has been discussed in great detail...but I must be searching for the wrong things because I can't find any of them.
Many of the threads I have found are from 2018 and so probably not even accurate anymore. And I find conflicting info....like VOLTE and Wifi and HD calling. Some people say they work. Some people say they don't. I'm pretty lost. And I'm not really interested in making the switch if the phone is going to be very hindered. She's using an iPhone6 now so idk if it has HD anf Wifi calling but 4G LTE data is an absolute must. But I would like to have all features if possible though because i'm sure it will become an issue at some point when she figures out those features exist.
My phone details are:
Model: SM-G960U
Software version: G960USQS7CSJ7
Hardware version: 1.1
Is it even possible to do what I want? If so, can someone point my in the right direction to an existing guide (if there is one) or where to get started? I've found links to firmware but I have no idea which one I need (RB/H/J/etc.). There's just so much information to sort through I'm overwhelmed.